Andrew Force:
Future150 National Analyst. Covering High and Middle School basketball.
NASHVILLE, TN (Future150) -- The underappreciated Nashville basketball scene has three young stars blossoming on the south side of town. Gavin Schoenwald, Darius Garland, and Camron Johnson are all seeing heavy minutes for a Brentwood Academy's 22-2 team.
"We have a lot of talented people on our team," said sophomore Tyler McNair. "Overall I think we have a good chance of going all the way."
Tennessee state playoffs begin for Brentwood Academy Saturday. Head Coach Hubie Smith wisely finds time for the rapidly-improving Garland and speedy Johnson in his backcout.
Season sweep
Thanks to a vocal student body BA stifled Ensworth in the first matchup, 61-45.
Though Garland was under the weather, Brentwood Academy was able to complete the sweep as January wrapped. Johnson's elite speed with the ball was nightmarish for Ensworth.
"Camron had a great game," said McNair. "He is one of our key players and always best in transition and off the dribble. He is one of our best players."
Johnson plays both football and basketball. He truthfully runs faster with either ball faster than most defenders. Facing Ensworth he bolted up the floor relentlessly.
"We have so many guards that can just get the ball out and push. I just know if I am sprinting the floor that they are going to find me in transition," said Johnson. "That is ultimately going to help me get a lot of fastbreak buckets."
With Clamps, Champs?
Gavin "Clamps" Schoenwald provides high energy and defensive zeal at numerous positions. He can thrive anywhere from the SG to the PF. The mixture of strength and quickness demonstrated by Schoenwald makes him a special piece on a great team.
A well-rounded player, Schoenwald clamps down on his mark.
Schoenwald is all over the floor and double teams with ferocious intensity. Opposing guards are rattled when he comes to double.
Johnson cites Schoenwald's timely defensive rebounds as critical to the team's winning streak.
The Eagles suffered their only two losses over the course of a week. Back in mid-January Father Ryan trudged through a low scoring affair to win, 42-40. The following Saturday Brentwood Academy slipped up against Brentwood High, 62-34.
The defensive commitment of the entire Brentwood Academy team is surprising for a team composed of so many first-year varsity players. The buy-in was immediate by all three freshmen.
Everything they do is high effort and high reward.
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